Grate construction for the ice compartments of refrigerator cars



Nov. 6, 192s.- 1;690,412

G. A.' HULL GRATE' CONSTRUCTION FOR THE ICE COMPARTMENTS 0F REFRIGERATOR CARS Filed Feb. a. 1926 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Nov. 6, 1928.- 1,690,412

a. A. HULL GRATE (JOIJSTRUQ'I'ION FOR THE ICE COHPARTMENTS OF REFRIGERATOR CARS Filed Feb. 8, 1926 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 6501196 (ZHLLZQ 40M, 45M ja M r NM U.

Nov. 6, 1928. --1;690',4'12

G. A. HULL GRATE CONSTRUCTION FOR THE ICE COMPARTMENTS OF REFRIGERATOR CARS Filed-Feb. 8, 1926 Q: Sheets-Sheet 5 m ,6 mmmmmimmmma P atented Nov. 6, 1928.

"UNIT D STATES v 1,690,412 PATENTOFFICE.

onoaan A. from, or cmcaeo, ILLINOIS, assIeNon'ro noulrman'r srncmmms 00.,

i or CHICAGO, ILLINoIs, a conrona'rxon or ILLINOIS.

GBATE CONSTB'UCITON FOR THE ICE OOMPARTMENTS OF REFRIGERATOR CABS.

Application filed February 8, 1926. Serial No. 88,714.

The present invention relates to an improved grate construction for the ice'compart-ments' of refrigerator cars.

.One of the particular features of them- '5 vention is concerned with an improved sheet metal construction of rate bar and method of making the same. eretofore, removable grate bars have been generally constructed as castings, or as standard bar sec- 10 tions, such as I-beam sections and have been expensive, very heavy, and diflicult' to bandle. The .presentgrate bar possesses all of the durability of the ordinary grate bar, but

is materially lighter in weight, cheaper to construct and easier to handle.

' Another feature of the invention is con- .cerned with the manner of supporting the 'grate bars in the ice compartment This improved supporting means permits the ready insertion or mounting of the grate bars adjacent. the bottom of the ice compartment and embodies unique means for preventing the unauthorized removal of these grate bars after they are once in place.

The locking of the grate' bars in place is made necessary or desirable by the fact that tramps will often enter the ice com- I artment while the car is traveling under ventilation, viz, .without ice in the ice compartments, and will endeavor to gain access to the cargo compartment by lifting or removing the grate bars. According to the present construction, the grate bars are locked in place by locking means which is only releasable from the cargo side of the bulk-head.

Other features of my invention concerned with the manner of supporting the grate bar rests; securing the lower ends of the bulk-head panel sect-ions, etc, will be apparent'fmm the following description of a preferred embodiment of my invention.

Referring to the accompanying drawings illustrating this embodiment:

Figure 1 is an elevational view of the blank employed in stamping out the sheet metal grate bars.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the completed grate bar after the performance of so thestamping operation or operations on the above blank. Figure 3 is a side elevatlonal view of the same.

Figure 415 a cross section taken on the plane of the line 4-4 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is an end elevational view'of the grate bar, illustrating the transverse locking construction, taken transversely through the ice compartment or longitudinally of the car, with the middle portion of the car broken away.

Figure 7 ;is a similar view taken on the plane of the line, 7-7 of Figure 6.

Figure 8 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the plane of line 88 of Figure 6.

Figure 9 is a sectional view taken on the plane of the line 99 of Figure 6; and

Figure 10 is a sectional view taken on the plane of the line l010 of Figure 9.

The entire grate surface is assembled from a plurality of separate grate bars all constructed as substantially identical sheet metal stampings. I shall first describe the manner of making these sheet metal grate bars and then shall describe the manner of mounting the same in the ice compartment.

Figure 1 illustrates a. substantially rec- 'tangular sheet metal blank from which the grate bar unit is made, this blank being of substantially the length of the finished grate bar. By one or more stamping opera-- tions, the blank is given a cross section of general channel form extendingfrom end to end thereof. This channel form is of symmetrical U-shaped section at the extreme ends of the unit asindicated at 12. The side flanges 13 of these end portions 12 extend in parallel relation and have their lower edges 14 extending in a straight line parallel to the length of the unit for providing resting surfaces for resting on the supporting members of the ice compartment.

Intermediate these end portions 12, the

channel contour is squeezed inwardly and lengthened vertically to form an inverted V-shaped section 16. This intermediate V-shaped portion is of considerably narrower width than the end portions 12 so that when a plurality of bars are placed side by side in the ice compartment with the end portions 12 contacting between the adjacent grate bars, spaces will be left between the V-shaped intermediate portions 16. These s aces or interstices will permit drain tlirough the grate surface and will permit the. passage of cold airin the thermal circulation occurring in the car. The width of this intermediate V-shaped portion 16 is narrow at its center, from which it flares gradually outwardly to the greater width of the U-shaped end portions 12, as shown in Figure 2. This results in a greater depth of flare in the middle of the bar where greater strength is desired.

It will thus be ap arent that by the pres ent formation and sposition of the metal thereof, I have provided a stamped grate bar which has all of the desired strength and onlya small part of the weight of the ordinary grate bar.

According to the present method of mounting and locking the grate bars in the ice compartment, there is one grate bar in each series which functions as a locking bar for preventing the removal of all of the bars. This locking bar is constructed in exact duplication of the other bars except that one end is rovided with a locking pin or rod 18 whic is extended through the two side walls of one of the U-shaped end portions 12. The ends of this rod or pin are riveted over flush with the outer sides of the bar.

Referring now to the manner of mounting these grate bars in the ice compartments, Figures 6, 7 and 8 show in section the ice compartment of a typical refrigerator car. These ice compartments 21, located one at each end of the car are defined between the end walls 22 and bulk-heads 23, which bulkheads separate the ice compartments 21 from the cargo compartment 24. Each ice compartment is loaded with ice through hatc ways 25 generally located on each side of the car. The side members 26 of these hatchways join with a false roof 27 extend- I compartment. At the upper end of each panel section, the main panel portion 29 is formed with an extension 34 ,which is folded back and bolted to the underside of the false roof 27. The several panel or bulk-head sections are bolted together by bolts 35 passing through their edge flanges 31 and the bulkhead wall 23 is bolted to the rear flanges 32. At the lower end of each panel section, the panel portion is cut away from between the edge flanges 31 substantially as indicated in Fl r6 6: U i

' he grate constructions comprise a pair upper ends of a series of inclined supports.

or chairs 46. One of these supports 46 is located at the meeting edges of each pair.

of panel sections. As best shown in Figures 9 and 10 each of these supports is a sheet metal stamping of channel shaped cross section;

and extending into the pockets formed in I these supports are the channel shaped lower extensions of the panel sections. Below the point where the panel sheets 29 are cut away the extending edge portions of these panel sections are of channel section, and after two adjoining panel sections have been bolted together with these channel extensions engaging back to back these connected channel extensions are swung into the recesses in. the supports 46. The lower flat ends 46 of the supports 46 are riveted or otherwise fastened to a channel 40 which drops down over a sill 50 extending transversely of the car. The upper ends of the supports 46 have horizontally turned flanges 46 on which rests the lower horizontal flange 39 of the grate bar rest or support 37. Short 2 bars 45 are secured by bolts 58 to the back sides of the spaced supports 46. These bolts 58 preferably pass through the flanges 32' on the edge extensions of the panel sections and thus bind the panel sec-. tions, the supports 46 and the Z bars 45 all together. The depending flange 42 on the grate bar rest 37 is secured to the outer flange of each 2 bar section by bolts 59. Tie bolts 47 extend between the supporting bar 43 and the Z bar sections 45 for holding the grate bar rests in fixed spacing. The supports 46 are preferably inclined as shown so that all of the drip will occur into a drip pan or drain basin. below the ice grate. A ready circulation of the cooling air can occur between the spaced supports 46. It will be evident from the above that these supports 46 constitute simple and effective means for supporting the grate ba'r rest 37 and also for anchoring and supporting the lower ends of the panel sections.

Referring again in rests, the upper locking flange 41 of the end grate bar rest 38 is continuous from end to end, this flange affording a locking shoulder for the corresponding ends of the grate bars. The upper locking flange 41 of the detail to the grate bar jacent the middle of the ice compartment,

this flange is cut awayto form a slot 51 of substantially the width of one grate bar. (See Figure 8). i

In inserting the grate bars, one end of each grate bar is first inserted in the end rest 37 between the flanges 39 and. 41 and the opposite end is then dropped through the slot 51. As each grate bar is inserted it is pushed to right or left to provide a continuous series of grate bars extending across the width of the ice compartment as shown fragmentarily in Figure 7. The ends of the grate bar rests are closed by end angles 52. The grate bars are so distributed that after the entire series has been pushed together, the last bar will remain directly below the inserting slot This last grate bar is the special locking bar previously described, the end having the transverse locking pin or rod 18 lying directly below the slot '51. A hook lug 54 is hooked over the locking shoulder afforded by this transverse pin or rod 18, and a bolt 55 is passed through this lug and' through holes in the flange 42 and supporting member 4-5. The nut 56 which draws this locking lug up against the flange 42, can only be applied and removed from the cargo side of the bulk-head through the cut away lower end of one of the panel sections 28. Thus there is no possibility of releasing this locking grate bar from the ice compartment and there is hence no possibility of removing any of the grate bars from the supporting channels 37- and 38. If desired, the end of the bolt 55 may be riveted over after the nut 56 is in place thereon to prevent the complete removal of the nut 56, and thereby prevent the bolt 55 and hook lug 54 from dropping down into the drain pan.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. The combination with a refrigerator car having an ice compartment and supporting members along the sides thereof, of a grate surface comprising a plurality of grate bars each constructed of a sheet metal stamping having end portions of relatively wide channel section affording substantially parallel flanges for resting on said supports,

and having an intermediate portion of inverted V-shaped section of relatively narrow transverse dimension.

2. The combination with a refrigerator car having an ice compartment and supporting members along the sides thereof, of a grate surface comprising a plurality of grate bars each constructed of asheet metal stamping having end portions of relatively wide U- shaped section with the lateral flanges facing downwardly and have an intermediate portion of inverted V-shaped section.

3. A grate bar for refrigerator cars consisting of a sheet metal stamping formed with ends of channel shaped section and having an intermediate portion of narroweri:

width than said channel shaped ends.

horizontal width and a depth than saidfends.

5. A grate bar for refrigerator ears and the like punched from a sheet metal blank of substantially rectangular form and chars acterized by end portions of relatively wide transverse dimension and an intermediate portion of relatively transverse dimension.

6. A grate bar for refrigerator cars consisting of a sheet metal stamping formed with ends having widely spaced bearing flanges and having an intermediate portion characterized by a flange of relatively deep vertical dimension to resist the bending stresses imposed on the center of the grate bar.

7. A grate bar constructed'of a sheet metal stamping, having end portions of relatively wide U-shaped section with the lateral flanges facing downwardly and having an intermediate portion of inverted V-shaped section.

8. The combination with a refrigerator car having an ice compartment, of a. grate surface comprising a plurality of separate grate bars of non-uniform cross section, said bars being widest at their ends, whereby said bars are spaced from each other, and grate bar rests in said ice compartment for slidably receiving said grate bars, said grate bar rests having confining shoulders for preventing the removal of the grate bars.

S). The combination with a refrigerator car having an ice compartment, of a grate surface comprising a plurality of separate grate bars, having cooperating shoulders on each side of said bars to maintain said bars spaced from each other, and grate bar rests in said ice compartment for slidably receiving said grate bars;

10. The combination with a refrigerator car having an ice compartment, of a grate surface comprising a plurality of separate grate bars, having cooperating shoulders at their ends to maintain said grate bars spaced, and grate bar rests in said ice compartment for slidably receiving said grate bars, said grate bar rests having confining shoulders for preventing removal of said grate bars.

11. The combination with a refrigerator car having an ice compartment, of a grate surface comprising a plurality of separate grate bars, said bars being channelled and having their cross section narrowed at certain points to form apertures when said bars are laid side by side against each other, and a pair of grate bar rests in the ice compartment for supporting the grate'bars.

12. The combination with a refrigerator 4. i grate barfor refrigerator cars cone .70 ing an, intermediate portion of narrower,

greater vertical car having an ice compartment, of a grate surface comprising a lurality of separate grate bars, said bars eing channelled and having their cross section narrowed at certain points to form apertures betweensaid bars when said bars are laid side by side against each other, and a pair of confining shoulders cooperating with said grate bar rests for preventing removal of the grate bars.

13. The combination with a refrigerator car having an ice compartment and a cargo compartment, a grate surface comprising a plurality of separate independent self-spacing grate bars, a pair of grate bar supporting members for receiving and supporting the ends of said grate bars, each of said supporting members characterized by an upper flange overlying the ends of said grate bars for preventing removal thereof, one of said flan es having an opening therein through w iich the separate grate bars can be inserted in said supporting members and locking means releasable only from said cargo compartment for locking one of said ate bars in the plane of said opening thereby blocking the removal of any of said grate bars through said opening. 1

14. The combination with a refrigerator car having an ice compartment, of a grate surface comprising a plurality of separate grate bars, having cooperating shoulders at their ends to malntain said bars spaced, a pair of grate barrests in the ice compartment for slidably receivingjand. supporting the grate bars,said grate bar rests havin confining shoulders for preventing remo'va of the grate bars and one of said confining shoulders having an entrance point through which grate bars may be removed, and releasable means for locking said grate bars at -said entrance point.

15. The combination "with a refrigerator car having an ice compartment, a grate surface comprising a plurality of grate bars, having cooperating shoulders at their ends to maintain said bars spaced, extending transversely of said grate surface, a pair of grate bar rests in said ice compartment for slidably receivin the ends of said grate bars and having locking shoulders for preventing removal of the bars, one of said grate bar rests having an opening therein through which the separate grate bars can be placed and removed and recasable means for locking said grate bars against removal at said entrance point.

16. The combination of a refrigerator car having an ice compartment and a cargo compartment, of a bulkhead separating said compartments, said bulkhead comprising a plurality of vertically extending channel sections, a grate surface in said ice com partment comprising a plurality of grate bars, a pair of grate bar rests for supporting the ends of said grate bars, means for locking said grate bar a ainst removal from ,said grate bar rests, a p urality of supports the two extending edge portions of adjoining panel sections en aging in the recess between the flanged sides of the companion support, and means for securing said extending edge portions to said support and for securing the adjacent grate bar rest to said support.

17. The combination with a refrigerator car having an ice compartment and a cargo compartment, of a bulkhead separating said compartments, said bulkhead comprising a plurality of vertically extending panel sections, each of said panel sections having an extended edge portion at its lower end, a grate surface in said ice com artment comprising a plurality of grate ars each constructed of a sheet metal stamping, a pair of grate bar rests ada ted to receive and support the ends of sai grate bars locking flanges on said grate bar rests for preventing removal of said grate bars, one of said locking flanges having an opening therein through which the grate bars are inserted, means accessible only from'the cargo compartment for locking one of said rate bars in the plane of said opening an thereby blocking the removal of any of said grate bars through said 0 ening, the grate bar rest adjacent said bulk ead also comprising a horizontal supportin flange and a vertical flange, a plurality o inclined supports disposed in spaced relation across the car approximately beneath said bulkhead, each of said supports comprising a portion of channel section, the abutting extending edge portions ofadjoining panel sections engaging between the flanges of said channel pertions and being secured therein, each of said inclined, supports having shoulders engagin the horizontal supporting flange of the adjacent grate bar rest, a Z-bar section secured between each of said supports and the vertical flange of the adjacent grate bar rest, and tie rods for maintaining a predetermined spacing between said grate bar rest.

18. The combination with arefrigerator car having an ice compartment, of a grate surface comprising a plurality of seaarate grate bars, having cooperating shoul ers at their ends to maintain saidbarsspaced, a pair of grate bar supporting members adapted to slidably receive the ends of said grate bars, said supporting members having locking flanges for preventing removal of said grate bars, one of said locking flanges having an opening therein through which the separate grate bars can be placed and removed, and means accessible from a point outside of said ice compartment for locking said grate bars against removal through said opening.

19. The combination with a refrigerator car having an ice compartment and a cargo compartment, a grate surface comprising a plurality of separate grate bars, having cooperatin shoulders at their ends to maintain sai bars aced, a pair of grate bar supporting mem ers for slidably receiving and supporting the ends of said grate bars, each of said supporting members characterized by an upper flange overlying" the ends of said grate bars for preventing removal thereof, one of said flanges having an opening therein through which the separate ate bars can be inserted in said support- 1n members and locking means releasable on y from said cargo compartment for lock-. ing one of said grate bars in the plane of- G ORGE A. HULL.

ars through SQlCi open-. 

